Principal Engineer

South Glos; Yate; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing support

Staff discounts

Training and development

Job summary

South Gloucestershire Council is seeking a Principal Engineer to lead the Highway Development Implementation team, delivering major highway projects across South Gloucestershire. You will mentor engineers, ensure schemes meet national and local standards, and work with developers, consultants and contractors to deliver high-quality infrastructure while promoting safety and best practice.

You will influence decisions, review submissions, and provide clear guidance to MPs and councillors, helping

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification with Chartered/Incorporated Engineer status.
• NVQ Level 5 in Management or equivalent leadership experience.
• Proven post-qualification civil engineering experience delivering complex projects.
• Experience managing programmes, resources and budgets in highways/civil engineering.
• Strong communication skills for complex information to varied audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of engineers and technicians.
• Ensure highway works meet national and local standards.
• Negotiate with developers, consultants and contractors to deliver schemes.
• Review developer submissions for compliance with standards.
• Collaborate with council colleagues and stakeholders to plan developments.
• Provide clear responses to MPs, elected members and the public.
• Promote health and safety culture and policies.

Skills

Leadership & people mgmt

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Civil engineering knowledge

Project delivery

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering

Chartered or Incorporated Engineer

NVQ Level 5 in Management

Job description

How you'll make a difference

As a Principal Engineer, you will make a significant contribution to the successful delivery of highway development projects across South Gloucestershire. Acting as a specialist adviser on behalf of the Highway Authority, you will provide expert highway engineering advice to developers, helping to ensure new developments are designed and delivered to a high standard.

Working as part of the Highway Development Implementation team, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery of privately funded developments across the area. With significant growth taking place, particularly along the North and East Fringes of Bristol and within our historic market towns, this is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the delivery of high-quality infrastructure that supports sustainable communities.

What you will be doing

• Managing a team of engineers and technicians, you will support their performance, development and professional growth through effective mentoring and leadership.
• It will be your responsibility to ensure that highway works delivered by developers are designed and constructed in accordance with national and local standards.
• Working closely with developers, consultants and contractors, you will negotiate, influence and make informed decisions to ensure schemes are delivered in line with agreed standards, specifications and legal agreements.
• As part of the technical approval process, you will review and assess developer submissions, ensuring compliance with relevant standards and requirements. You will work collaboratively with colleagues across the council and other professional stakeholders to support the planning and approval of new developments.
• Using your expertise, you will provide clear and professional responses to enquiries from MPs, elected members, stakeholders and members of the public.
• It will be key for you to promote a strong health and safety culture, including safe working practices and ensuring the consistent application of the council's health and safety policies and procedures.

What we need from you

• We require you to hold a degree-level qualification, or equivalent, together with a recognised professional qualification in civil engineering, such as Chartered Engineer or Incorporated Engineer status, demonstrating your commitment to continuing professional development.
• It is essential that you hold an NVQ Level 5 in Management or have equivalent knowledge and experience gained through leading teams, managing performance and delivering high-quality services.
• You will bring substantial post-qualification experience in civil engineering, with a proven track record of delivering complex engineering and infrastructure projects. Confident leading high-performing teams, you will combine your technical expertise with strong leadership skills to ensure projects and services are delivered safely, efficiently and in line with organisational objectives.
• With experience of managing programmes, resources and budgets within a highways construction or civil engineering environment, you will be comfortable working with a wide range of stakeholders. Your ability to influence, negotiate and build effective relationships will enable you to drive projects forwards and achieve positive outcomes.
• You must be a strong communicator, capable of translating complex technical information into clear, practical advice for both specialist and non-specialist audiences. Whether presenting recommendations, preparing detailed reports or leading project discussions, you will provide professional expertise and strategic thinking needed to support effective decision-making and successful project delivery.

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different

• As part of our benefits package, you will receivegenerous annual leave(pro rata), employeewellbeing supportand you will have access to a range ofstaff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
• We recognise that ourdiverse teamof skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
• We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of ourtraining and developmentoffer,which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work.

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.

• We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
• We're planning for the future; building and improving the roads, railways, schools, green spaces, and houses.
• We’re providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained.

We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.

We’re making a difference, be part of it!